Altitude training causes haematological fluctuations with relevance for the Athlete Biological Passport

TY - JOUR

T1 - Altitude training causes haematological fluctuations with relevance for the Athlete Biological Passport

AU - Bonne, Thomas Christian

AU - Lundby, Carsten

AU - Lundby, Anne Kristine

AU - Sander, Mikael

AU - Bejder Rasmussen, Jacob

AU - Nordsborg, Nikolai Baastrup

N1 - CURIS 2015 NEXS 035

PY - 2015/8/1

Y1 - 2015/8/1

N2 - The impact of altitude training on haematological parameters and the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) was evaluated in international-level elite athletes. One group of swimmers lived high and trained high (LHTH, n=10) for three to four weeks at 2130m or higher whereas a control group (n=10) completed a three-week training camp at sea-level. Haematological parameters were determined weekly three times before and four times after the training camps. ABP thresholds for haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), reticulocyte percentage (RET%), OFF score and the abnormal blood profile score (ABPS) were calculated using the Bayesian model. After altitude training, six swimmers exceeded the 99% ABP thresholds: two swimmers exceeded the OFF score thresholds at day +7; one swimmer exceeded the OFF score threshold at day +28; one swimmer exceeded the threshold for RET% at day +14; and one swimmer surpassed the ABPS threshold at day +14. In the control group, no values exceeded the individual ABP reference range. In conclusion, LHTH induces haematological changes in Olympic-level elite athletes which can exceed the individually generated references in the ABP. Training at altitude should be considered a confounding factor for ABP interpretation for up to four weeks after altitude exposure but does not consistently cause abnormal values in the ABP.

AB - The impact of altitude training on haematological parameters and the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) was evaluated in international-level elite athletes. One group of swimmers lived high and trained high (LHTH, n=10) for three to four weeks at 2130m or higher whereas a control group (n=10) completed a three-week training camp at sea-level. Haematological parameters were determined weekly three times before and four times after the training camps. ABP thresholds for haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), reticulocyte percentage (RET%), OFF score and the abnormal blood profile score (ABPS) were calculated using the Bayesian model. After altitude training, six swimmers exceeded the 99% ABP thresholds: two swimmers exceeded the OFF score thresholds at day +7; one swimmer exceeded the OFF score threshold at day +28; one swimmer exceeded the threshold for RET% at day +14; and one swimmer surpassed the ABPS threshold at day +14. In the control group, no values exceeded the individual ABP reference range. In conclusion, LHTH induces haematological changes in Olympic-level elite athletes which can exceed the individually generated references in the ABP. Training at altitude should be considered a confounding factor for ABP interpretation for up to four weeks after altitude exposure but does not consistently cause abnormal values in the ABP.

U2 - 10.1002/dta.1757

DO - 10.1002/dta.1757

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25545030

SN - 1942-7603

VL - 7

SP - 655

EP - 662

JO - Drug Testing and Analysis

JF - Drug Testing and Analysis

IS - 8

ER -